- Dennis CokeTIME AND AGAIN (left, Shane Ellis) gets the better of SUCKIE YACKIE (centre), with Trevor Simpson aboard, to win the Craven 'A' Claiming race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Melton Williams, Staff Reporter
BANG IN form jockey Shane Ellis continued his superb run at Caymanas Park with a three-timer on yesterday's 11-race programme, his second triple in consecutive race days.
The Canada-based Ellis, now on winter break from Woodbine in Toronto, has now ridden eight winners in three race days and is set to continue that form on Wednesday's Boxing Day programme. The 2000 champion jockey has secured seven rides for the holiday race meet.
Ellis' triple included CRUCIAL TIMES, who covered the 1,000 metres straight course in a smart 58.4, odds-on favourite GLORIOUS STAR and TIME AND AGAIN, who came with a strong stretch run to score a narrow victory in the feature Craven 'A' Claiming Championship, the final race in the series, over 1,400 metres.
He saved his best for the Craven 'A' race by producing the 9-1 shot TIME AND AGAIN in the nick of time to tag 7-2 chance SUCKIE YACKIE within shades of the wire.
Always in the hunt, Ellis make his winning run in the vicinity of the home stretch after Trevor Simpson, who was surprisingly early leader aboard the usually late-running SUCKIE YACKIE, had put his mount through from the leading pair of YOUNG SUMMER and MAN OF STAR.
SUCKIE YACKIE immediately went three lengths clear and looked as if she would last but TIME AND AGAIN was found her best stride on the outside and caught up close home to score by half lengths. ST. TULIS GIRL, ran on strongly for third place and hat-trick seeker THE REAL MEDIC finished fourth.
The surprise of the race was TIME AND AGAIN'S more fancied stablemate SILVER PATRIOT who finished down the track. SILVER PATRIOT, the 5-2 second favourite, was never in the hunt.
The day also belonged to trainer Gresford Smith, who saddled TIME AND AGAIN as he took the trainers' category in the Craven 'A' Series.
Smith, who entered the day in second position on 26 points, four behind leader Arnold Rambally, moved to 46 for the major spoils of $75,000
However, Rambally held on to win the owners' category as no one was good enough to surpass his 30 points. Gary Griffiths, who owned the fourth-place finisher THE REAL MEDIC, finished second on 29 points after entering the day eight points behind Rambally.
Simpson and champion jockey designate Charles Hussey rode two winners each.
The overseas-based Simpson won aboard LET THE MUSIC PLAY and 3-1 chance FRENCH MINISTER while Hussey took his tally to 82 wins after victories aboard CHARMING BELLE and JETSTREAM. Hussey is now five ahead of title-chasing Ramon Parish who had one winner in NYAMINYAMI.
